Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Al-'amarah Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Al-'amarah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $273 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $294 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $316 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

Medellin costs about 516% more than Al-'amarah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Al-'amarah is 80% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.02 COP 25.0K

$1.89 IQD 2,477

324.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.87 COP 149.4K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 COP 30.8K

$4.49 IQD 5,883

120.27%

Cappuccino

$3.13 COP 9,767

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 COP 5,954

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 COP 4,712

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 COP 9,747

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 COP 17.9K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 COP 4,509

$2.72 IQD 3,567

-47.06%

White Bread (500g)

$2.49 COP 7,759

$0.74 IQD 965

236.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 COP 5,535

$0.93 IQD 1,214

90.32%

Eggs

$2.96 COP 9,235

$1.49 IQD 1,945

98.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.07 COP 31.4K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.12 COP 31.6K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.30 COP 44.6K

Apples (1kg)

$4.14 COP 12.9K

$0.75 IQD 978

452.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 COP 5,019

$1.16 IQD 1,519

38.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,007

$0.79 IQD 1,029

184.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,028

$0.26 IQD 340

765.38%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 COP 6,375

$0.79 IQD 1,029

158.23%

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 COP 4,790

$0.40 IQD 519

285.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 COP 3,651

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 COP 4,077

$0.56 IQD 733

133.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.2K

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 43.7K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 COP 5,439

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 COP 8,956

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 COP 3,792

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 251.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 COP 4,084

$2.31 IQD 3,030

-43.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 COP 6,825

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.71 COP 27.2K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 COP 4,260

$0.33 IQD 431

315.15%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.8K COP 86.9M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$35.8K COP 111.6M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$177 COP 553.2K

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.88 COP 43.3K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.72 COP 92.8K

$26.98 IQD 35.3K

10.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.88 COP 140.1K

$30.44 IQD 39.9K

47.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 53.4K

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 20.7K

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$813 COP 2.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,187 COP 28.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.5 COP 279.3K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.0 COP 184.0K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$138 COP 431.2K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 318.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 COP 3.3M

$152 IQD 198.5K

600.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$663 COP 2.1M

$115 IQD 150.3K

477.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,888 COP 5.9M

$195 IQD 254.9K

870.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,027 COP 3.2M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,183 COP 13.1M

$578 IQD 757.5K

623.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 COP 5.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$678 COP 2.1M

$501 IQD 655.6K

35.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Last update for Al-'amarah: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $152 in Al-'amarah. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 35% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Medellin vs Al-'amarah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 516%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,521 per month in Medellin and $409 in Al-'amarah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Al-'amarah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,681 in Medellin and $273 in Al-'amarah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 340% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al-'amarah, where all-in costs run around $273, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Al-'amarah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Al-'amarah – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Al-'amarah. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.